Rotatable mandrel

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a mandrel for coiling strip as produced by a hot rolling mill. The mandrel includes a rotatable arbor on which a plurality of outer segments are carried. The segments are moved radially relative to the arbor by an axially movable rod carried by the arbor. A piston cylinder assembly moves the rod and, hence, the segments into three radial positions. In order that the segments may be firmly held and supported in these positions, wedges are arranged at the opposite ends of the segments which are engaged by axially movable rings which carry complementary wedges and which are connected to the rod.

United States Patent Adair [451 Apr. 25, 1972 54] ROTATABLE MANDREL3,489,363 1/1970 Diolot ..242/72.1 [72] Inventor: James RichardAdair,Pittsburgh, Pa. 3,552,673 1/1971 Evers ..242/72.] [73] Assignee: UnitedEngineering and Fenndry Com- Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath P y,Pittsburgh, Pa. Assistant ExaminerMilton Gerstein [22] Filed: Jam 1970Attorney-Henry C. Westm 1 pp 3,740 57 ABSTRACT This disclosure relatesto a mandrel for coiling strip as U-S- roduced a hot rolling The mandrelincludes a rota l lift; Cl 75/18 ble arbor on which a plurality of outersegments are carried. [58] Fleld of Search 46-41 78-1; The segments aremoved radially relative to the arbor by an 279/57 2 axially movable rodcarried by the arbor. A piston cylinder assembly moves the rod and,hence, the segments into three [56] References C'ted radial positions.In order that the segments may be firmly held UNITED STATES PATENTS andst pported in these positions, vvedges are arranged at the opposite endsof the segments which are engaged by axially OBI'lEl'l movable ringswhich carry omplementary wedges and which 2,94 1 l Perl'ine r areconnected to the fod 3,379,389 4/l968 OKeefe ..242/72.l 3,456,893 7/1969Michelson 242/721 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures P'ATENTEU APR 2 5 1522 Isaw 1 BF 3 i ww H I I 1 NM Q R Q RATENTEUAPMS 1972 3, 658 2T4 sum 2 BF 3//V 7' ERMED/A TE FUL L y EXPANDED EXPANDED INVENTOR. JAMES 4014PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 3.658 274 SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR. JAMES R. ADA/R BY 71 V r214N 5 m ATTORNEY.

ROTATABLE MANDREL In the operation of a hot strip rolling mill, it iscustomary to provide a coiler for coiling the strip as it leaves themill. The coiler includes a rotatable mandrel which is adapted to beexpanded to receive the leading end of the strip and, after a coil isformed, to be collapsed to allow the coil to be removed from themandrel. In order to form tightly-formed coils, the coils are woundunder tension as a result of the differential speed between the lastmill stand and the mandrel, in which it is highly desirable to createthe tension on the strip as quickly as possible. When rolling andcoiling thin strip, this can be done after only a few convolutions havebeen wrapped around the mandrel. However, in rolling and coiling heavystrip or plate products, the inherent stiffness of the material preventscreating a tension condition until a number of wraps have been formed.In view of this, it has been suggested to provide an intermediateexpanded position for the mandrel. In this way, instead of fullyexpanding the mandrel prior to receiving the material, the mandrel canbe brought to an intermediate expanded position and, after the initialwraps are formed on the mandrel, the mandrel can be fully expanded topositively grip the inner wraps and allow a tension to be imposed on thestrip issuing to the mandrel. Such a suggestion, however, has not beenfully utilized because of the fact that in prior mandrel designs therewas no efficient and effective way to hold the segments in a positiveway in the intermediate and fully ex panded positions, particularly inthe intermediate position when subject to the centrifugal force inherentin the operation ofthe mandrel.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide amandrel wherein the segments thereof can be efficiently and effectivelyheld in several different radial positions during the operation of themandrel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotatablemandrel having an inner rotatable arbor around which there arepositioned a number of outer segments, and a means for moving thesegments into at least three different radial positions, wherein thereis provided a segment positioning member adapted to engage and supportthe segments in at least their intermediate radial positions.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide in ahot coiler mandrel having an inner arbor and a plurality of outersegments which are displaceable in different radial positions relativeto the inner arbor, a segment positioning means comprising wedges on theopposite ends of the mandrel in engagement with the segments thereof,wherein one portion of the wedges are automatically movable in a mannerto bring the wedges into positive contact with the segments during thevarious radial positions that the segments may assume.

These objects, as well as other novel features and advantages of theinvention, will be better appreciated when the following description isread along with the accompanying drawings, ofwhich:

FIG. la is a longitudinal sectional view of the drive side of a hotstrip coiler mandrel,

FIG. lb is a longitudinal sectional view of the operating side ofthemandrel illustrated in FIG. la,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines II-II of FIG. lb,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged'sectional view of a portion of thedrive side ofthe mandrel shown in FIG. la illustrating the adjustable wedge assemblyat this side of the mandrel, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the operatingside'of the mandrel shown in FIG. lb illustrating the adjustable wedgeassembly at the operating side of the mandrel.

With reference to the drawings and, first, to FIG. lb, there is shown alongitudinally extending arbor 11 which, at the inboard end, isrotatably received in bearings 12 carried in a stationary frame 13 whichalso houses the gear drive that drives the arbor. The arbor 11 extendstowards the left, as one views FIG. lb, and constitutes the innerportion of the mandrel assembly, as can be better seen in referring toFIG. 2. The arbor 11 at its central portion is provided with an axiallyextending opening in which there is received an actuating rod 14 which,

in the mandrel section, is provided with a number of wedge portions 15spaced axially along the rod 14, as one views FIG. lb. In engagementwith each wedge portion 15 there is a radially extending plunger 16having, as shown in FIG. 2, a flat surface which complements the flatsurface of the wedge portion 15 so that on displacement axially of therod 14 the plungers, by reason of the wedge action, are displacedradially relative to the arbor 11.

In referring now to FIG. 2, it will be observed that the outer portionof the mandrel is made up of four interfitted segments 17 having inwardprojections 18 that fit into channels 19 formed in the arbor 11 in sucha manner that the segments are displaceable within the channels 19 inradial directions, but are prevented from moving outward beyond thepoint defined by projecting portions 21 of the arbor. As shown in bothFIGS. lb and 2, the plungers l6 engage the inner portion of theprojections 18 of the segments, by which means the segments are movedradially relative to the arbor I 1.

In referring now to the front of the mandrel, as illustrated in FIG. lb,it will be noted that the segments 17 have stepped portions 22 which,while not shown specifically in the drawing, are indented with respectto the normal width of the segments. On the outer surfaces of theportions 22 of the segments 17 there are secured wedge members 23 havingtheir inclines decreasing in a direction towards the arbor 11. FIG. 4

shows an enlargement of each wedge member 23, in which connection itwill be noted that in engagement with each wedge member 23 is a disk 24arranged at an angle complementary to the incline ofthe wedge member 23,which angle is defined by the angular adjacent portion 25 of a ring 26.The portions 25 have openings 27 into which there are received threadedlock screws 28 that engage belleville springs 29 which are receivedbetween the lower ends of the screws 28 and the inner surfaces of thedisks 24. The springs 29 retain the disks 24 in positive engagement withthe wedge members 23, yet allow some displacement, such as may benecessary because of thermal expansion and other alignment factors. Thering 26 forms a part of a vertical member 31 located at the extremeouter end ofthe mandrel. The vertical member of the ring is secured tothe actuating rod 14 by a nut 32 so that on movement of the rod themember 31 is displaced, as illustrated in phantom in FIG. lb, whichaccordingly will displace the wedge disks 24 relative to the wedgemembers 23.

In referring now to the inward portion ofthe segments, as illustrated inFIGS. lb and 3, it will be noted that the segments 17 in this region areformed with integral wedge portions 33 and which, as in the case of theportions 22, are of a narrower width than the segments themselves. Eachwedge portion 33 is engaged by a wedge disk 34 having a slopecomplementary to the slope ofthe wedge 33 as formed by the angle ofinclination of portion 35 of a ring 36. The portions 35 receive threadedscrews 37, the lower ends of which engage belleville springs 38 arrangedbetween the screws 37 and the inner surfaces of the wedge disks 34. Oneither side of the portions 22 and 33 and to one side of the wedges l5and plungers 16, as best shown in FIG. 2, there are arranged four rods41, the outer ends of which are connected by bolts 42 to the verticalportion 31 of the front ring 26, the opposite end of which is connectedto the back ring 36, the connection at the back, as best shown in FIG.4, being effected through an ear 43 having a nut 44 that connects theend of the rods to the ring 36. Thus, it will be appreciated that upondisplacement of the actuating rod l4 and the portion 31 the rods 41 willeffect a displacement of the rings 26 and 36 so that the wedges 24 and34 move relative to the wedges 23 and 33.

With regard to the wedges 15, 23 and 33, it will be observed in FIG. 1bthat the direction of incline is in the same direction relative to thearbor ll and that, when the mandrel is expanded, that is, when theactuating rod 14 is moved to the extreme right position as illustratedin FIG. lb, the plungers 1-6 are at the top of the inclined surfaces ofthe wedges 15, whereas the wedges 24 and 34 are at the bottom of theirmating inclined surfaces. Because of this relationship and theinterconnection between the wedges, the wedges 24 and 34 aremechanically synchronized to restrain and hold the segments 17 in theirseveral radial positions in addition to always urging the segments intoa collapsed position.

In still referring to the construction of the mandrel itself, it isimportant to note that at the inboard side, as best shown in FIG. 3, thesegments 17 are connected to the arbor 11 in a manner to hold themagainst thermal expansion towards the drive side by providing keys 45.The key construction, however, is such that the segments are free tomove radially and are free to expand thermally in a direction towardsthe operators side where there is provided sufficient clearance betweenthe portion 22 of the segments and the vertical portion 31 of the ring26. This is in view of the fact that the mandrel being discussed isdesigned to handle hot strip issuing from a rolling mill, which presentsthe need to consider the thermal expansion of the various parts.Accordingly, the same consideration is given to the rods 41 which arefixedly held by the nuts 42 at the outboard side of the mandrel, butwhich are allowed to expand in the direction of the drive, in whichconnection the nut 44 provided at the drive side is allowed to bedisplaced axially.

In now describing the expanding mechanism for the mandrel which isillustrated in FIG. In, it consists essentially ofthe rotating pistoncylinder assembly that causes the three movements of the actuating rod14 and, hence, of the segments 17. As previously noted, it is a featureofthe illustrated mandrel to present the segments 17 in a collapsedposition, in an intermediate position and in a fully expanded position,which positions are in legend in FIG. 2. This is accomplished byproviding a double piston cylinder assembly and, as noted previously,the relationship of the mandrel parts is shown in the fully expandedposition, in which position the piston cylinder assembly is similarlyshown. As illustrated in FIG. la, connected to the driven arbor 11 androtatable therewith is a piston cylinder assembly 47 which consists oftwo relatively movable pistons 48 and 49 received in stepped bores 51and 52, respectively. The arrangement is such as to provide pressurechambers, which are best illustrated by referring to their fluid ports,namely, 53, 54, and 55. It is also important to note that the pistoncylinder assembly includes a stop surface 56 formed in the inner backwall, a stop surface 57 formed at the center, and a stop surface 58formed at the front of the cylinder at the inner wall thereof.

When the pistons 48 and 49 ofthe piston cylinder assembly 47 are in thecollapsed position, the piston 48 will be against the surface 57 and thepiston 49 will be against the surface 58. This means that there is aspace between the adjacent surfaces of the two pistons and between thepiston 48 and the surface 56. When it is desired to partially expand themandrel from the collapsed position to the intermediate position for thepurpose heretofore described, fluid under pressure is admitted to theport 53, exhausted at the port 54, and pressure is admitted to the port55. This will keep the piston 48 against the surface 57 and, at the sametime, move the piston 49 in a direction towards the piston 48 until itabuts against the piston 48. This action will move the actuating rod 14towards the left, as seen in FIG. 1b. As long as the two pistons are inthis relative position, the mandrel will be held positively in itsintermediate position. When it is desirable to bring the mandrel to thefully expanded position, as illustrated in FIG. lb, the pressure isexhausted from the port 53 and the port 54, but admitted to the port 55.This will have the effect of forcing the piston 49 against the piston 48and moving both pistons until the piston 48 contacts the surface 56.With this movement the actuating rod 14 will also move.

To collapse the mandrel, fluid under pressure is introduced to ports 53and 54, and the port 55 is open to exhaust. This will force the pistons48 and 49 to the left, as one views FlG. 1a, causing the piston 48 toabut against the surface 57 and the piston 49 against the surface 58.This action will, in turn, move the actuating rod 14 to the right, asone views FIG. lb.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 haveexplained the princigle and operation of my invention and haveillustrated an described what I consider to represent the bestembodiment thereof.

Iclaim:

l. A rotatable mandrel for handling strip-like material comprising:

an inner rotatable arbor,

a plurality of outer segments carried by said arbor in a manner that thesegments are movable relative to the arbor in a radial directionincident to the handling of the material by the mandrel,

complementary wedge means for moving said segments to displace themradially,

means arranged on at least one of the ends of said mandrel engageablewith said segments for determining the radial positions of saidsegments,

said segment determining means including wedge means complementary tosaid wedge means of said means for moving said segments and beingmechanically synchronized in relation to said means for moving saidsegments to provide a positive resistance for the segments in a numberof different radial positions.

2. A rotatable mandrel in accordance with claim 1 in which said meansfor moving said segments includes an axially movable rod,

a wedge assembly having inclined surfaces for each segment arrangedbetween the rod and said segments and intermediate the ends ofthesegments.

3. A rotatable mandrel'in accordance with claim 1 in which said meansfor moving said segments include a power means adapted to move saidsegments in unison into a collapsed position, an intermediate position,and a fully expanded position.

4. A rotatable mandrel in accordance with claim 1 including a pair ofrings, and wherein said complementary wedge means at the opposite endsof the mandrel are carried by a different one of said separate rings,

means for connecting one of said rings to said means for moving saidsegments, and

means for connecting said one ring to said other ring so that said ringsare displaceable in unison.

5. A rotatable mandrel in accordance with claim 4 including a number ofrods in which said rings are connected together by a rod for eachsegment arranged to pass between said arbor and said segments.

1. A rotatable mandrel for handling strip-like material comprising: aninner rotatable arbor, a plurality of outer segments carried by saidarbor in a manner that the segments are movable relative to the arbor ina radial direction incident to the handling of the material by themandrel, complementary wedge means for moving said segments to displacethem radially, means arranged on at least one of the ends of saidmandrel engageable with said segments for determining the radialpositions of said segments, said segment determining means includingwedge means complementary to said wedge means of said means for movingsaid segments and being mechanically synchronized in relation to saidmeans for moving said segments to provide a positive resistance for thesegments in a number of different radial positions.
 2. A rotatablemandrel in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for moving saidsegments includes an axially movable rod, a wedge assembly havinginclined surfaces for each segment arranged between the rod and saidsegments and intermediate the ends of the segments.
 3. A rotatablemandrel in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for moving saidsegments include a power means adapted to move said segments in unisoninto a collapsed position, an intermediate position, and a fullyexpanded position.
 4. A rotatable mandrel in accordance with claim 1including a pair of rings, and wherein said complementary wedge means atthe opposite ends of the mandrel are carried by a different one of saidseparate rings, means for connecting one of said rings to said means formoving said segments, and means for connecting said one ring to saidother ring so that said rings are displaceable in unison.
 5. A rotatablemandrel in accordance with claim 4 including a number of rods in whichsaid rings are connected together by a rod for each segment arranged topass between said arbor and said segments.